Lion Red Cup

Lion Red Cup
Lion Red Cup logo
SportRugby league
Inaugural season1994
Ceased1996
Replaced byBartercard Cup
Number of teams12
CountryNew Zealand
Last PremiersCounties Manukau (1989-2007)
Most titlesCounties Manukau (2 titles)

The Lion Red Cup was a New Zealand domestic rugby league competition that ran from 1994 to 1996 sponsored by brewers Lion Nathan. It was created due to the increase in public awareness of domestic rugby league due to the Auckland Warriors being accepted into the Winfield Cup. The competition was a huge success in its inaugural year, although it made a massive loss financially. Throughout its three-year history it continued to make a loss, eventually being scrapped by the New Zealand Rugby League.